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For many North Americans, a semi-annual sleep-manipulation experiment is the
“spring forward” to daylight saving time and “fall back” to standard time. Millions of
Canadian and American records have revealed that accidents increase immediately after the
spring-forward time change, which shortens sleep (Figure 1.5-10).

TEACH 1.5-8 Figure 1.5-10 Number of Number of
Less sleep = more accidents accidents
Enrichment accidents 2800 Less sleep,
more
(a) On the Monday after the spring accidents
Relate to students the story of Randy time change, when people lose
one hour of sleep, accidents 2700 4200
Gardner, a high school student who increased, as compared with More sleep,
fewer accidents
in 1969 attempted to stay awake for the Monday before. (b) In the fall, 2600 4000
traffic accidents normally increase
as long as possible. Gardner even- because of greater snow, ice, and
darkness, but they diminished
tually stayed awake for 11 days, but after the time change. (Data from 2500 3800
Coren, 1996.)
he experienced frightening symp-
toms as a result of his sleep loss. He 2400 Monday Monday 3600 Monday Monday
developed a heart murmur, slurred before after before after
Spring time change Fall time change
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Not for redistribution.
his speech, and couldn’t attend to (hour of sleep lost) (hour of sleep gained)
a conversation for more than a few (a) (b)
Figure 1.5-11 summarizes the effects of sleep deprivation. But there is good news!
moments. He hallucinated that street Psychologists have discovered a treatment that strengthens memory, increases concentra-
signs were people, and he believed tion, boosts mood, moderates hunger, reduces obesity, fortifies the immune system, improves
himself to be an African American school performance, and lessens the risk of fatal accidents. Even better news: The treatment
football star, even though he was not feels good, it can be self-administered, and it’s free! If you are a typical high school student, you
might feel trapped in a cycle of sleeplessness. Stress — from school and life generally — might
African American and did not play make adequate sleep seem like a luxury. But one night this week, try to add 15 minutes to your
football. Once Gardner began sleeping sleep. Until you feel more rested and less like a zombie, try adding more sleep as often as you
again, his symptoms disappeared. He can. For some additional tips on getting better-quality sleep, see Table 1.5-2.
was back to his regular sleep pattern Figure 1.5-11 Brain
Decreased ability to focus attention
within three to four days of ending his How sleep deprivation and process and store memories;
increased risk of depression; decreased
marathon of wakefulness. affects us metabolic rate; increased cortisol; Heart
enhanced limbic brain responses Increased risk of
to the mere sight of food; decreased high blood pressure
TEACH 1.5-8 cortical responses—reducing
ability to resist
temptation Stomach
Discussion Prompt Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Increase in the hunger-
Immune system arousing hormone,
To encourage critical thinking, ask Decreased production of ghrelin; decrease in
immune cells; increased the hunger-suppressing
students to consider the following risk of viral infections, hormone, leptin
such as colds
question: If the benefits of sleep are so
clear, why does Western culture seem Fat cells
Increased production;
greater risk of obesity
to avoid it? Have students consider Muscles
the factors that keep people in the Joints Reduced strength;
Increased inflammation slower reaction time
United States and other industrialized and arthritis and motor learning
cultures from getting enough sleep.
How do economic factors play into
the lack of sleep? What about social 106 Unit 1 Biological Bases of Behavior
influences? How can policy makers
encourage people to get more sleep?
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106 Unit 1 Biological Bases of Behavior

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